April 2011 - Babies turning one, shopping to be done, toddling, tantrums and talking to come

[Fraktal]

New stage, new thread!

whatever takes your fancy

We don't have a pillow or a duvet here. P is still in a sleeping bag. Does that make me a meany mummy?

Are you meant to swop to pillows and duvet at 12 months? I must have missed that one

I don't think you have to. I was only musing because b like to lie his head on his rabbit. And if I'm getting a pillow might as well get a duvet too! Probably won't use the duvet right away.

We're also still in sleeping bags (with the shoulder sewn up to prevent escape - does that make ME a meany mummy?). I thought you could stay with those for months still. How on earth do you know whether they need a pilllow?

You dont have to... S kept escaping his sleeping bag. He is hudini in disguise.

Toddler I is still in grobags and ds2 was until last week, when he finally decided he didn't want to wear one anymore!

Ds2 had a pillow from about 18mo. I think I introduced it when he had a cold (I thought it may help with snot drainage) and he liked it straight away.

Fizz - don't forget ikea as well, they have some fab designs.

Oh right, phew! I'll stick with the sleeping bag for a bit longer then. I'm definitely from the 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' school of thought. Besides, Jo is clearly a meaner mummy than me

I might trial a pillow at some point though, I always think it looks uncomfortable in the cot without one. We will see...

Hello Midweek Team!

We do a bit of mix & match here with bedding. It was sheet/bag when it was hot (inside, at least) the other week, but duvet is back on now. He seems to really like his pillow.

So, after a particularly tantrummy weekend, I'm starting to think about what to do over the summer.

What kind of things can I do with a 16 month old, which are cheap/free and don't require transport? Bearing in mind it'll most likely rain, although we have good waterproofs!

• We've stocked up on pens & colouring book already.
• Local swimming pool in walking distance

...?

Water/sand table for outside
Chalks to draw on the patio (a patio is required though )
Local toddler groups
Do you have a leisure centre that runs activities?
Local NCT type open house coffee mornings
Messy play courses. Lots of churches seem to be doing messy play.
Pottery painting - hand and foot prints on mugs, tiles etc for Christmas presents.
Paddling pool
Homemade play doh - put loads of salt in so he doesn't eat it.
Local train and bus rides.
Picnics in the park
Have a look at your local councils website, they often put on free activities during the holiday.

Huge sheet of paper, a naked baby and lots of paint. Roll cars through the paint and make track marks, hands and feet in the paint etc.
Foraging for berries and soft fruit, then make something with it (or if you're like me, put it in the freezer and forget that it is there!)

Hey ladies. V quiet here. Everyone ok? Need more advice pls. I think s is teething but the dribble has eased and he slept well last night. His nappies have been vile for about a week. But he's taking on fluid and his nappies are wet. He's being a pain with his food yesterday and today. He will eat his breakfast but all he's eat for lunch is a slice of toast. Wont touch the peppa shapes but it's the first time he's had them tho he eats beans amd spag hoops etc so no different. It's testing my lack of patience and hormones.

Kitty B was like that too when he was teething. I ended up just leaving little piles of Nibley food around house and he helped himself when he was hungry. That actually sounds like I am treating him like our cat. But he would get upset when weput him in his high chair because he knew he was going to have to eat. Nappies were awful here too! Just give s time, when we are sore we don't want to eat much either.

Had mmr on Tuesday and he's been really out of sorts, not sleeping very well grumpy whingeing. I'm letting him sleep as much as possible today as hes not been napping at the cms. Maybe because of the mmr, but I think it's more to do with the cms boys being home from school. He's scared he misses something!

We've booked a holiday cottage near Perth. It's only an hour away, but it might as well be new Zealand the amount of prep I'm having to do! I thought they were meant to need less stuff as they get bigger!!

at you treating B like the cat Fizz

I'm no expert kitty but I think I'd just give S time too. If he's eating something and still drinking his milk, I wouldn't worry too much. P loves her grub but even she went off it a little bit last time she was teething.

Weather is HORRID here today. I hope it's nicer in Perth Fizz, or that you're packing your wellies!!

Thanks ladies. He just practically bit my finger off when I applied teething gel. See fb for pics. Flipping hurt.

Right!rule 1. Don't put your finger in their mouth once the first tooth has cut! :o I put a blob this foam thing he's always chewing. It goes through the dishwasher.

Ouch! Just seen the picture kitty. On a more positive note, nice nail varnish

Good tip fizz ta. He has 12 teeth, why didn't I think of that!!!

Thanks star. Off out to a mates surprise 30th. Look out for pictures of a beached whale later. Ie me!

I raise your 12 and offer Bs 16

Enjoy your party! And not even green peace would think you were a beached whale!

hello all! Only 2 more weeks till 6 ok, 5-and-a-half weeks of freedom! (by which I mean desperately trying to entertain a 16 month old )

Thanks for the activity tips, I think the naked baby + paint one will have to wait till it's warm & dry enough to do outside. I need to look up what's on at the leisure centre & childrens centre.

Regarding teething, I seem to have taught F how to go "aaarrrgghh" with his mouth wide open, so I can quickly dart a finger in with teething gel. After the first one goes in, he's much more cooperative in an "ooh, that's a nice tasting blob of stuff, more please!" kind of way!

The premolars are through here, but the drooling has started again this evening. Which ones are next?

16 fizz!!!!!!

Party was good but while I was there my best mate called in tears. Her sister was rushed to hosp the night before with a seizure. It's a brain tumour . Same sister had breast cancer two years ago.

Oh kitty, I'm sorry that's terrible terrible news

Whilst tickling s I noticed two more teeth. Upper, either side of front 4. That explains alot. Still getting runny nappies.

Been looking for a new car today. Seen a gorgeous quasqia +2. Fingers crossed for finance. Need a huge boot for the Jane Powertwin duo.

Hello all,
Sorry to hear about your friend and her sister Kitty :(

I've been AWOL as we went camping last week M loved it. We went with friends who's daughter is a day older than M and they seemed to both enjoy the freedom of running around the field chasing blackbirds and the like. They both seemed to grow in confidence, though I can't quite put my finger on what's changed. M also slept really well with barely a wake up - I was expecting it to go back to 2 hourly or something. The campsite was really quiet as it was mid week before school holidays and we had a great time. The weather threatened but we didn't get mega rain until we were packing up, though trying to get saturated tent in the car was tricky.

So, the practise run for the festival went well and now about 6 weeks to go. The weather must be better for August surely?!

Morning all,

So sorry to hear about your friend and sister, Kitty. That's dreadful.

Hope poor S improves. That was quite a bite! We also get hideous nappies with teething and C often goes off his food too. If he's refusing to eat he will always still have those Ella's Kitchen fruit smoothies (mainly because he likes playing with the lid) so I give him those, thinking that at least he's getting a bit of fruit in him.

Excellent tip Fizz, I have been getting a lot of bitten fingers too.

The weather WILL be better for August, Chilli. I have a week in the New Forest booked. It simply can't keep raining like this, surely?

Thanks for lots of ideas, ilike. We are also getting to the stage where we need lots of entertainment. We had C out in the garden on Saturday evening, playing with pots, soil and a trowel. He was having a blast. Though he was absolutely filthy.

Hi all! I've been gone for ages, heading up a parents' group is hectic!